Pressurized gas lifting and gas rejuvenation

ABSTRACT

Devices, processes, systems, and articles of manufacture adapted to treat contaminated fluid, such as organic wastewater, are described. These are described to include lifting contaminated fluids, treating contaminated fluids, or both, through gas application. In certain designs, gas, such as pressurized air, may be used to lift contaminated fluids, such as organic wastewater (i.e., water having contaminating organics of some kind, e.g. residential septic wastewater). In certain designs, gas, such as pressurized air, may also be used to treat fluids interfacing with the gas.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. nonprovisionalapplication Ser. No. 13/836,061, filed on Mar. 15, 2013 and entitled“Pressurized Gas Lifting and Gas Rejuvenation” The '061 application is anonprovisional of and claims priority to U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 61/647,634, which was filed on May 16, 2012 and isentitled “Pressurized Gas Water Lifting and Gas Rejuvenation.”

TECHNICAL FIELD

Lifting fluids, treating fluids, or both, through gas application isdescribed. More specifically, gas, such as pressurized air, is used tolift fluids, such as water with organic waste; and gas, such aspressurized air, is used to treat the fluids, such as water with organicwaste, interfacing with the gas; or both.

BACKGROUND

Fluids, such as wastewater, may be treated to protect the environmentand public health. Fluids to be treated may include pollutants andmicroorganisms that are each detrimental to the environment as well asdetrimental to people, wildlife, and the flora and fauna within theenvironment.

Contaminated fluid is treated to render the fluid more suitable forsubsequent use or discharge. Treatment can include separating,modifying, removing, and destroying objectionable, hazardous, orpathogenic substances in the fluid. To this end, treatment serves toremove unwanted materials with little or no affect on the fluidcomposition itself. For example, if the fluid is water, the molecularstructure of the water remains unchanged after treatment.

Various phases of contaminated fluid treatment are employed to addressvarious contaminants and the unique treatment circumstances presented byeach. In the end, the goals can include removal or reduction of thelevels of the impurities, contaminants, and solids from the contaminatedfluid in order to collect, handle, and dispose of the fluid safely, orwith reduced harm to humans or the environment.

Various discharge standards and quality standards apply when testingeffluent safety and treatment effectiveness of fluids. For organicwastewater applicable standards can measure turbidity (suspendedsolids), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), coliform organisms, pH,remaining heavy metals, remaining chemical compounds, and remainingorganic compounds.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments can include devices, processes, systems, and articles ofmanufacture adapted to treat contaminated fluid, such as organicwastewater. These embodiments may include lifting contaminated fluids,treating contaminated fluids, or both, through gas application. Inembodiments, gas, such as pressurized air, may be used to liftcontaminated fluids, such as organic wastewater (i.e., water havingcontaminating organics of some kind, e.g. residential septic wastewaterin various stages of treatment). In embodiments, gas, such aspressurized air, may also be used to treat fluids interfacing with thegas.

In embodiments employing residential or other septic systems orcomponents of these systems, wastewater received from one or morepre-treatments, may be accumulated in a vessel and then discharged fromthe vessel using pressurized gas, such as air. Upon leaving the vessel,the pressurized gas may serve to rejuvenate the fluid during transportand further downstream handling, treatment and discharge. This dischargemay be made to a leaching field, a river, a body of water, a municipalplant, a community septic system, a community wastewater system, and/ora subsequent wastewater system.

In embodiments employing municipal treatment systems or components ofthese systems, wastewater from a pre-treatment may be accumulated in avessel and then discharged from the vessel using pressurized gas, suchas air. Upon leaving the vessel, the pressurized gas moving with orafter discharged fluid may serve to rejuvenate the fluid duringtransport and further downstream handling, treatment and discharge. Thedischarge of fluid, gas, and mixed fluid and gas may each be made to aleaching field, a body of water, and/or a subsequent wastewater system.

In embodiments, the rejuvenation of organic wastewater may include useof reactive gases that support aerobic activity in the organicwastewater. This treatment can result in reductions in biological oxygendemand (BOD), turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), pathogens,nitrogen, phosphorus and other contaminants.

Other affects may also ensue in embodiments from the rejuvenation of theorganic wastewater or other contaminated fluid. For example, ifnonreactive noble gases are employed in disclosed or other embodimentsto pressurize a vessel accumulating contaminated fluid and tosubsequently rejuvenate the contaminated fluid, the rejuvenation mayinclude the action of the nonreactive noble gases percolating throughthe fluid, which can include the release of solids suspended in thefluid.

In embodiments, a downstream infiltration system may include septicleaching systems comprising a leaching field, or other discharge andtreatment configuration, as well as other infiltration systems, that mayor may not include treatment media into which the water may bedischarged. Still other downstream infiltration systems may be used aswell. Embodiments include flowing air in or around the system anywhereclogging can occur in or around the system, including outside of thesystem.

In embodiments, air or another gas may be in fluid communication with apressure vessel containing water, such as wastewater, with or withoutorganics, pretreated wastewater, or storm water, to be lifted from alower position to a higher position, wherein in the higher position thewater may be discharged into a downstream system including aninfiltration system. The air or other gas may be pressurized ahead offlowing into the pressure vessel or may develop pressure as it gathersin the pressure vessel or both. Still further, the gas may be compressedby the additional introduction of air or other gas into the sealed spaceholding the water.

Still further, in embodiments, the gas may be pumped into the pressurevessel, as well as flow into the pressure vessel because of a pressuredifference between the gas and the pressure vessel containing the water.In embodiments, the pressure vessel may be sealed or otherwise designedsuch that the air or other gas is compressed and pressure increases asadditional air or other gas enters the pressure vessel. A pressurerelief valve may be present to relieve high pressure levels.

In embodiments, pre-treatment ahead of the vessel may include passingthe wastewater or other fluid through a treatment tank, such as a septictank, aerobic tank, media treatment system or other settlement orclarification device or system. In preferred embodiments thepre-treatment provides clarification of organic wastewater or fluid andremoves sediment or debris or other waste ahead of the wastewater orfluid reaching an intake or filter. Accordingly, in embodiments, gas mayprovide chemical or biological rejuvenation with reactive gases, such aspromoting an aerobic environment or neutralizing volatile organiccompounds in the fluid. And, in embodiments, gas may provide mechanicalrejuvenation with reactive and nonreactive gases when, for example,these gasses bubble through after discharge from the pressure vessel,during downstream transport, and serve to release solids from acolloidal suspension or other type of fluid suspension. In each instanceand in various embodiments, gas may also serve to remove dissolvedmaterials from a fluid through reactive and nonreactive gas interfacesor interactions with the fluid or the materials or both.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of system components as may be employed inembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of system components as may be employed inembodiments.

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of a pressure vessel having an air input, awater input, and a discharge pipe as may be employed in embodiments.

FIG. 3B is a sectional view of a pressure vessel having an air input, awater input, and multiple discharge pipes as may be employed inembodiments.

FIG. 3C is a sectional view of a pressure vessel having an air input, awater input, and multiple discharge pipes as may be employed inembodiments.

FIG. 3D is a sectional view of a pressure vessel having an air input, awater input, and multiple discharge pipes as may be employed inembodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a controller as may be employed inembodiments.

FIG. 5 shows process aspects as may be employed in embodiments.

FIGS. 6 a-6 c show examples of leaching field components as may beemployed in embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of upstream treatment and a pressure vesselas may be employed in embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of a pressure vessel and variousupstream and downstream components as may be employed in embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As noted above, embodiments can include devices, processes, systems, andarticles of manufacture adapted to treat contaminated fluid, such asorganic wastewater. These embodiments may include lifting contaminatedfluids through gas application, treating contaminated fluids through gasapplication, pressurizing a conduit with orifices to spread out thecontaminated fluid, or all of the above. In embodiments, contaminatedfluids may accumulate in a vessel and then be removed from the vessel bybuilding pressure in the vessel through the introduction of gas into thevessel, behind the accumulating fluid. When the pressure in the vesselfrom the introduction of gas into the vessel is high enough thepressurized gas can serve to purge fluid from the vessel. Pressuressufficient for discharge of wastewater may be less than 5 psi and can be10 psi or 15 psi, and may have one psi increments within these ranges,or be higher still. Other pressures, including those identified below,may also be used.

In embodiments the gas may also interact with contaminated fluid as thefluid travels away from the vessel and moves through a treatment systemdownstream of the vessel. This interaction can be a chemicalinteraction, a biologic interaction, a mixed biologic/chemical reaction,and a mechanical interaction. The chemical and biological interactionsmay be promoted by using reactive gases while the mechanicalinteractions may be promoted when using reactive and nonreactive gases.

As described throughout, embodiments may be used to treat fluids, suchas water, to treat the system and components of the system handling thefluid, and to treat the surroundings of the system and the componentshandling the fluid. In other words, in a residential septic systememploying a settling tank and a leaching system surrounded by a leachingmedium of some kind, for example pea stone or sand or plastic media, thegas may not only treat the organic wastewater in the system it may alsoserve to treat the walls and surfaces of the leaching system, the pipesconnecting them, the slots of the leaching field and the leaching mediumsurround or otherwise interfacing with the leaching system components.Should biomat or other organic deposits (cumulatively biomat) develop onany of these surfaces or mediums, the gas, which can be air or otheroxygen containing gas, can promote aerobic activity that in-turn reducesthe biomat on the surfaces of the system components as well as on thesoil, sand, granular material, and other material surrounding or beneaththe septic tank, the leaching field, and the conduits connecting thesecomponents of the residential septic system.

As noted, the gas may be a reactive gas such as air or oxygen, and maybe a nonreactive gas as well, such as a noble gas, e.g., helium orargon. Combinations of reactive and nonreactive gases may be used aswell. Still further, the fluid may be water, and may be, among otherthings: septic tank effluent (STE) pretreated wastewater; organicwastewater; nonorganic wastewater; and storm water.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system as may be employed in accordwith embodiments. Visible in FIG. 1 are pressure vessel 101; line todownstream treatment system 102; clean out 103; discharge inlet 104;filter 105; gas source/air compressor inlet 106; air compressor/pressuresource 119; seal 109; pressure vessel water level 110; pressure vesselvent 125; internal air pressure 122; bubbler 112; valve 113; sensor 117;controller 118; filter sensor 120; and filter signal line 121.

In embodiments, including but not limited to the system of FIG. 1, apressure differential may be created to act on water in the pressurevessel 101 and lift the water from a storage or lower position to adischarge or higher position. During operation, the air or other gas maycontinue to enter the pressure vessel until such time as enough pressureexists in the pressure vessel to urge the water into the dischargeposition where it may flow or be transported downstream and into furthersystems. Upon being lifted or moved from the storage position, or lowerposition, to the discharge position, the water may flow or otherwisemove in the line 102 towards one or more subsequent infiltrationsystems. These subsequent treatment systems, which can include sandfilters and soil infiltration system, may further use the gas to treatthe wastewater or other fluid that was accumulated and purged from thepressure vessel 101. In a residential septic system, for example, airmay be used as the compressed gas and the oxygen in the air may serve topromote removal of BODs from the organic wastewater as the wastewatertravels towards and in downstream treatment components, which caninclude a leaching field. The oxygen may also serve to treat thesurfaces of the line 102 as well as surrounding materials if the pipeprovides for leaching.

In preferred embodiments, the organic wastewater entering the filter 105is pretreated to reduce or remove solids, sediment, debris or otherforeign matter. The pretreatment may also preferably serve to clarifythe organic wastewater entering the filter 105. In so doing, downstreamcheck valves or other components may be less likely to be held open,stick or be otherwise fouled by buildup of sediment or sludge or anobstruction carried in the wastewater. As a safety mechanism, the vent125 may serve to regulate internal pressures in the pressure vessel. Thevent may contain a pressure relief valve that vents when pressures inthe vessel exceeded a safe pressure. This vent can vent to the immediatearea and may also vent to a distant location through piping to thatremote area. Also, in embodiments, the pressure vessel may have a 40gallon capacity or various other capacities, both larger and smaller.

FIGS. 6 a-6 c provide examples of leaching field components that mayreceive treatment from the gas as may be employed in embodiments. Theseleaching field components can include conduit 601, conduit 604, andconduit 605. As can be seen, the conduits can be a pipe as well as havevarious cross sections, including squares and rectangles. Othercross-sections are also possible. These conduits may be below a surface609 and may be surrounded by, adjacent to or above treatment mediums orleaching mediums 602, 606, 607, and 608. These leaching mediums may be agranular material 602, such as soil, pea stone, sand, gravel, stone, andthe like. The leaching mediums may also be a nonorganic formed filtermaterial 606, 607, and 608, such as a plastic grid, a repeating formedshape, and various other means for filtering and/or biotreatment ofleachate from a leaching conduit. These various materials, filtermaterials, and means may also be intermixed and organized in variousways different from those shown in FIGS. 6 a-6 c. As noted above, thesemediums, materials, filter materials, and means, may themselves betreated by the gas from the pressurized vessels in embodiments. Thistreatment may include reducing or removing biomass and providing oxygenin support of aerobic activity in and around the mediums, materials andmeans.

Accordingly, in embodiments, gas used to move the water or other fluidmay also act further from initially serving to displace the water orother fluid by rejuvenating the water or other fluid as it moves in line102. The gas may also act on the system surroundings or the treatmentsystem itself in which the water may flow, acting to rejuvenate eitheror both. If the gas used to move the water or other fluid is a reactivegas it may also act on the system in which the water or other fluid ismoving and may promote rejuvenation of the system in addition torejuvenation of the water or other fluid. This rejuvenation may includerejuvenation of soil and treatment media downstream of the pressurevessel 101; inner linings or walls of the components of the system;slots, crevices, orifices or other openings including but not limited tointerfaces between soil and the system; and other components or portionsin and around the system as well. This includes the components as shownin FIGS. 6 a-6 c as well other downstream components.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of components of a system as may beemployed in accord with embodiments. As can be seen in FIG. 2, a septictank 200 may receive wastewater through inlet pipe 206. This pipe 206may be in fluid communication with the line 102 of FIG. 1, with a septicdischarge line of a residential home, and with other sources ofcontaminated fluids, such as organic wastewater. The tank 200 in FIG. 2is shown to contain a baffle 215, two clean-outs 203, a filter 205, agas source input 208, a pressure vessel 201, a discharge inlet 204within the pressure vessel 201, a check valve 213 in fluid communicationwith the pressure vessel, an air gap 210, and sludge 214. In use,organic wastewater may enter the tank 200 through input 206. Sludge orother solids in the wastewater may fall to the bottom of the tank 200and serve to comprise the sludge 214. The wastewater, now pretreated,with sediment reduced or removed, may flow from the initial chamber 220to the second chamber 221 of the tank and may then enter the pressurevessel 201 by passing through the filter 205 and the check valve 213.Within the pressure vessel gas pressure may build above the surface ofthe wastewater therein and may reach a value under which the wastewateris purged from the vessel 201 and out the line 202 to downstreaminfiltration system components. These downstream components may includethose shown in FIGS. 6 a-6 c.

Accordingly, embodiments may include multiple pressure vessels formoving wastewater or other fluids. A first pressure vessel may belocated near the source, as is shown in FIG. 1. This pressure vessel maybe within a residential home. And, a subsequent pressure vessel may belocated outside of the residential home, buried below grade in a septictank. These pressure vessels may be placed at other locations of atreatment system as well, serving to accumulate fluid and discharge thefluid at some interval or accumulated volume.

In preferred embodiments wastewater received by the vessel is pretreatedbefore reaching an upstream filter or check valve of the vessel. Thispretreatment is preferably performed upstream by a settlement tank orother treatment system, such as a settlement pipe, aerobic tank orchamber. Other pretreatment systems may also be used, including sedimentchambers, septic tanks, treatment tanks, multi-chamber filtering, septictank effluent filter, and multi-surface filtering. A preferred outcomeof this pretreatment would be to limit or remove sludge and foreigndebris from organic wastewater before reaching the vessel.

Sensors 217, like those shown in FIG. 1, may also be used to monitor thepressure vessel and the septic tank of FIG. 2. These sensors can monitoraccumulated pressure, accumulated fluid level, temperature, BOD, oxygen,pH, or other variable and may be used for treatment system managementand operation. For example, when pressure levels in the vessel 201 aremeasured as reaching a target value, the input of further gas flowthrough input 208 may be stopped, likewise, if BOD levels are higherthan expected in the pressure vessel 201 or either of the chambers 220or 221, additional oxygen or air may be pumped into the tank 200 or morespecifically the vessel 201 to promote aerobic activity and treatment ofthe BOD.

FIGS. 3A-3D show sectional views of a pressure vessel as may be employedin embodiments. The vessel 300 is shown with various configurations ofsensors 317, air inputs 308, fluid inputs 306, discharge lines 302, andcorresponding discharge inlets 304. Also visible is the fluid level 301within the vessel 300 and the valve 313 in fluid communication with thevessel 300 and the input 306. These vessels may be employed as describedthroughout.

In embodiments, a pressure vessel may be made from fiberglass,non-reactive metals, concrete, PVC, as well as other suitable materials.And, in use, the vessel may be vented between doses of fluid to equalizethe vessel interior to atmospheric pressure using an actuated valve. Thevessel can also be configured in certain embodiments to vent through thedischarge line. This venting cycle may be used for calibrating thesystem as well. Still further, downstream discharge of gasses flowingthrough the vessel may serve to control or preferably reduce odorsassociated with the wastewater. In other words, in embodiments odorousgases rather than being vented to atmosphere may be preferablydischarged to a permeable media filter, the leach field or other posttreatment system to infiltrate wastewater and treat odors and manageodors emanating from the wastewater.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3B-3D multiple discharge lines 302 may be used.These lines 302 may be used to distribute effluent to various differentdischarge points and for other reasons as well. Also visible is that thedischarge inlets 304 may have various configurations. These can includeangled intakes, tapered intakes, curved intakes and other configurationsas well. These intakes may also be moved to be at or set at differentinput elevations relative to each other and may be oriented in differentdirections as well as being rotatable about an axis to change theirorientation. This rotation is illustrated by arrow 309 in FIG. 3C andthe various input points are shown in FIGS. 3B-3D. Also, the air inputmay itself have different terminating elevations in the pressure vessel.

As can be seen, for example, the terminating elevation of the air input308 is shown between the two water inputs 306 and the water surface 301while in FIG. 3B the terminating elevation of the air input 308 is shownabove all inputs 306 and the water level 301. A backflow valve 313 ispreferably used in embodiments to allow for fluid to enter the pressurevessel. Backflow valve 313 is shown near the pressure vessel in FIG. 3Aand not in FIGS. 3B and 3C. The discharge lines may themselves havevalves 310. These valves may provide for controlled distribution fromthe pressure vessel.

Through these multiple discharge lines 302, various downstream dischargepoints may receive or not receive discharge from the pressure vesseldepending upon which valves 310 are open. This variability may allow thepressure vessel to balance downstream flows and serve as a distributionbox, i.e., a D-box. This may be a preferred configuration when thepressure vessel is mounted in or proximate to a septic tank such thatuniform flows to downstream leaching fields can be achieved.

The rotatability of discharge lines with angled or extended dischargeinlets can serve to agitate sludge levels that may rise to the inletlevel. In preferred embodiments sludge in the pressure tank will beminimized through upstream treatment, but, should levels undesirablyrise, the inlets may be used to agitate and dislodge the sludge.Moreover, in embodiments the lines may be moveable up and down such thatthere elevation within the pressure vessel can be controlled. Thisvariability in elevation may serve to keep input levels well within thewater level and away from any bottom sludge levels.

Still further, in embodiments, the discharge lines 302 may be purgedfrom time to time. This purging may serve to send additional gassesdownstream to the leaching fields and further rejuvenate the leachingfields through the introduction of restorative gases. This purging maytimed with periods where no fluid is entering the pressure vessel or theinput valves to the pressure vessel, such as valve 313, has been closedto permit purging and downstream restoration.

FIG. 4 is a controller as may be employed in accord with embodiments.The controller 400 is shown with a bus 411 in communication with a mainprocessor 401, a system manager 402, sensors 417, an external storageinterface 404, an audio interface 405, main memory 409,serial/USB/Firewire communication ports 408 network interface 407, andgraphics engine 406.

In use, the main memory 409 may store instructions for carrying outembodiments, such as those specifically described in this disclosure.These instructions can include instructions for monitoring the sensors417 and providing system commands to operate pumps, valves, and gassources used in embodiments. When sensors indicate that thresholdpressures have been reached in a pressure vessel the controller may sendcommands to a pump or other pressure source to stop. Likewise, if BODlevels are sensed to be high, a gas including oxygen or a higherconcentration of oxygen may be activated such that the oxygen levels maybe increased in the pressure vessel, the septic tank, the lines orelsewhere in the treatment system. Still further, if valves or filtersare sensed to be clogged or non functioning, pressure developed in thevessel may be increased to clear any clog, to promote maintenance, or torepair any obstruction. Alerts of the clogged or malfunctioning filtermay be provided by the controller as well. Preferably, pretreatment maybe provided to reduce clogging of input filters or valves of thepressure vessel and to reduce or eliminate obstructions from interferingwith wastewater flow through the pressure vessel.

The controller may provide for programming or adjustment by a user, suchas a system administrator or home owner. These adjustments can includesetting variations for dosing time, dosing intervals, BOD levels, pHlevels, alert preferences and for other things as well. In embodiments,these alerts can be sent over a network such that a home owner, otheruser, system operator, regulatory agency or similar interested party maybe alerted of the status of the treatment system. These status alertscan include providing notice of the dosing time, dosing intervals,volumes of water treated, BOD levels, pH levels, pressure, oxygen,temperature, clogging, filter condition and supply voltage of componentsof the treatment. These alerts may be sent over a network and may bereceived by a user's phone, tablet computer, or other computing device.

FIG. 5 shows process features as may be carried out in embodiments. FIG.5, as well as the remainder of the specification, contains features ofembodiments which may be carried out in various orders, with variouschanges or modifications, and with different, fewer or more particularfeatures as well.

As can be seen in FIG. 5 at 500, wastewater may flow into a septic tank,treatment tank, reservoir pump tank or the like in embodiments. This mayfurther include, as shown at 510, wastewater passing from the septictanks, reservoir tank or the like, through a filter and through an inputcheck valve. As explained at 520, as the wastewater enters it preferablyaccumulates in the vessel until the fluid reaches a target threshold ofsome kind. Thus, if a sufficient volume of wastewater has accumulatedduring the forward flow cycle to activate the dose to the downstreamtreatment system, the process is repeated. Otherwise, wastewater willaccumulate until an input such as a prescribed level or time interval ismet. This threshold can include a pressure target, a depth, and aduration of time.

As shown at 530, in embodiments, if the threshold is not met, fluid isallowed to continue to accumulate and when the threshold is met thefluid may be preferably discharged from the vessel and towardsdownstream treatment system. Once the wastewater is at a desiredelevation, a float switch or equivalent functioning device signals theblower, compressor or pressure generator to energize and charge thepressure vessel to the necessary pressure. This can also be done bysimply turning on the blower, etc. at a specific time interval, as wellas upon receipt of an activation signal. When the pressure builds in thepressure vessel, the wastewater is displaced from the pressure vessel upthe piping and to the discharge point. The air may then flow downstream,through the discharge point, towards and into downstream infiltrationsystem components at prescribed intervals. This flow may serve topromote a prescribed restoration objective, such as aerobic biologicalactivity in the system and around the downstream system. Subsequent tothe discharge at 540, the fluid may pass through the treatment systemand be discharged from it, which is shown at 550. Subsequent to thedischarge at 540, gases may also pass to and through theinfiltration/treatment system for odor control or remediation and forother reasons described herein as well. In embodiments, if wastewater isbeing simultaneously generated during the pumping or aeration cycle, itcan also accumulate in the tank, piping, or a similar reservoir.Moreover, the process may repeat again. Still further, in embodiments,water may enter the pressure vessel, activating the float switch andturning on the blower and the pressure vessel may be pressurized for aperiod of time or until the backpressure drops. Also, in embodiments, aprocessor may review the position of the status of a float level orother sensor and turn off a blower in order to let water enter thepressure vessel and then turn blower back on. This may be repeated inpart or in whole as needed. If the float is seen as low then a pressureinterval of air may be introduced or allowed to continue if running.

In embodiments, gas within the infiltration system may flow underpressure too. This pressure may promote rejuvenation as well serve topush wastewater or another fluid, under pressure, in promotion of thedistribution of the wastewater or other fluid in the infiltrationsystem. In other words, and for example, pressurized air may remain inthe treatment system after the wastewater leaves the pressure vessel andthis gas pressure may serve to urge the wastewater downstream in thesystem and to force seeping or leaching of the wastewater out of thesystem into the surrounding leaching materials. This can include forcingthe wastewater from orifices, such as slots in the pipe or gaps in theconduits, and into adjacent filtering materials, such as stone, or sand,or soil.

FIG. 7 shows a partial side elevation of an upstream treatment system750 in communication with a pressure vessel 700 below a surface 790 asmay be employed in embodiments. As can be seen in FIG. 7, embodimentsmay have configurations and components to reduce the risk of overflow.The pressure vessel 700 and the upstream treatment system 750 may bepositioned partially or completely below the surface 790 and may bepiped such in the event of a compressor failure, power outage, blockageor overflow from the pressure vessel may revert to overflow piping 760and be sent to a standby leach field, a downstream system or anauxiliary system or both. The pressure vessel 700 and the treatmentsystem 750 may also employ sensors 770 and 771, which can includemechanical and electronic float switches, and may detect fluid levels orgas concentrations or gas pressures etc., and can serve to assist intriggering overflow alarms, the pressurization and depressurization of apressure vessel, and the movement of control valves. When fluid levelsin the pressure vessel rise to a target level, for example the normaldischarge elevation 720, a sensor 770 may detect this invert elevationfluid level and may send signals that serve to trigger a pressure sourceto start or run or otherwise supplement pressure in the pressure vessel700. This increase in pressure may serve to purge the fluid in thepressure vessel and send gas downstream as well. Also labeled in FIG. 7are baffle 751, treatment system outlet 752, pressure vessel inlet 754,and pressure vessel outlet 703.

Additional sensors may also be used such that when fluid levels rise tohigh levels an alarm may sound and various measures may be undertaken.These measures may include increasing pressures in the vessel to purgethe vessel, opening or closing discharge lines from the vessel andslowing or stopping input to the pressure vessel as well. Valves maycontrol flow to main and secondary downstream treatment systems suchthat regular flow may move towards a first system and emergency orsecondary flow may move towards another system. A valve and dischargeline 702 may feed the primary downstream system while the valve 780 mayfeed a secondary or auxiliary system or another primary downstreamsystem. When overflow is sensed in embodiments both valves may be openedto increase flow out of the pressure vessel. The valves may remain openfor a period of time after the pressure vessel is purged to provide forremediation downstream of the pressure vessel—perhaps clearing anyobstructions and for other reasons as described herein or otherwise aswell.

In embodiments invert elevations may be set to provide overflow channelsfrom the pressure vessel to a downstream system as well. As can be seenin FIG. 7 the overflow piping 760 is set above the other shown dischargepiping and is below the uppermost volumes of the treatment system 750.Thus, in operation, should fluid levels rise in the pressure vesselbeyond normal levels 720 the overflow piping can serve to send fluiddownstream after sufficient accumulation in the treatment system 750 andbefore the treatment system 750 has reached its maximum capacity. Whenfluid is flowing through the overflow piping the sensor 771 may signalthe overflow state and may assist in sounding an alarm as well asopening valves 780 and 781. Upstream adjustments may be made as well.

In embodiments, including those systems with septic and other similartanks, in the event that the compressor is not operable due to amechanical failure, power outage or for another reason, a high-leveloverflow can be designed into the tank. For example, if the compressoror blower is inoperable, and water backs up from the pressure vesselinto the septic tank to an elevation where the level sensor, such as afloat switch should activate the compressor, but cannot, a high-leveloverflow port is provided just above the elevation where the floatactivates the compressor. Water that overflows can be flowed into asecondary leach field or tank or other destination. Also, the sensorremaining in a high position for more than a predetermined period oftime, for example fifteen minutes, can activate an alarm. Additionalalarms can also be configured into the tank(s) or leach field toindicate other unwanted fluid states and system conditions (includingpresumed clogging, inoperable valves, and accumulated sludge).

FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of a pressure vessel and variousupstream and downstream components as may be employed individually orcumulatively in embodiments. Visible in FIG. 8 is the surface 890, acompressor 841 positioned above the surface, a compressor line 842 shownabove and below the surface 890, a controller 830 coupled to controllerlines 831 and 832, a septic tank 850 having an inlet 864, baffles 851, at-inlet 853, an overflow outlet 810, an overflow detector 870, a septictank 850, sludge 852 in the septic tank, a water level 855 in the septictank, a check valve 821 between the septic tank 850 and the pressurevessel 800, a sensor 801 and discharge line inlets 804 in the septictank. These discharge lines 802 may be connected to leach fields forwater and gas treatment 860 and 865 respectively. These leach fields 860and 865 may themselves include distribution channel(s) 863, drip lines862 and 866, treatment media 861 and 868. They may be configured indifferent manners as well. For example, submerged pit systems may bealso be used. As shown in FIG. 8 both leach fields may be at an invertelevation above the discharge line inlet invert elevation as well asabove the pressure vessel and septic tank. In embodiments, the invertelevations of these various elements may be different than depicted inFIG. 8. For example one of the leach fields 865 and 860 may be above thepressure vessel while the other is not or is at the same invertelevation.

Also shown in FIG. 8 is overflow leach field 814. This overflow leachfield may be fluidly connected to the overflow port 810 such that fluidreaching a certain level in the septic tank may flow to the leach field814. This leach field may be constructed in the same manner as the othershown leach fields and may be configured in different manners as well.The overflow leach field 814 is shown with drip lines 813, treatmentmedia 815, discharge line 811, and distribution channel(s) 812.

In use, as fluid accumulates in the pressure vessel 800 the overflowdetector 870 may signal a full condition to the controller 830 which maysignal the compressor with auxiliary reservoir 841 to develop pressurein the vessel 800. This pressure will preferably increase until reachinga target level and will force water in the vessel up the discharge lineinlets 804, down the discharge lines 802 and into the leach fields 860and 865. In embodiments the leach fields 860 and 865 may be ten foot ormore higher closer to the surface or in elevation than the elevation ofthe discharge line inlets 804.

In some embodiments the leach fields may be “rotated” meaning that onewill be accessible while the other may lay fallow and this alternatinguse may change over time. In embodiments, the compressor may run for aperiod of time after pushing fluid from the vessel such that air orother gas also flows into the discharge line inlets 804, down thedischarge lines 802 and into the leach fields 860 and 865. This gas mayprovide rejuvenative effects to these components and their surroundings.

Should the overflow detector 870 malfunction or should surges in fluidlevels in the tank inundate the pressure vessel an overflow tank orsystem may be employed in embodiments. In FIG. 8 this overflow is shownas an overflow leach field 814. The overflow leach field may be sized tohave the capacity of the other leach fields as well as both larger andsmaller capacities. As shown in FIG. 8 the invert elevation of thisoverflow protection 814 is lower than the invert elevation of theoverflow port 810. The lower elevation is preferred such that in nopower situations gravity feeding of fluid can be sustained to retardrisks of overflow and backflow from the septic tank 850. To furtherdecrease the risk of backflow from the septic tank a trap or check valvemay be placed upstream of the tank in the inlet 854.

In embodiments, as noted above, treatment may be used for improvement ofthe treatment medium/system interface. This rejuvenation may includereducing clogging and reducing or removing biomass not only in thetreatment medium but the interface between the treatment medium and theleaching pipe or conduit. Also, in embodiments, the use of internalitems, such as diaphragms, bell devices, moveable seals, and springs,may be minimized or avoided completely to prolong maintenance intervalsand improve reliability of systems.

Still further, in embodiments, as additional failsafe backup measures, apressurized reservoir may also be used to store and hold pressurized gasfor a period time and in the event of compressor failure or high systemflow or for other reasons as well. This pressurized reservoir may alsobe used to increase the speed in which the pressurized vessel ispressurized. In other words, if a compressor is able to pressurize apressure vessel in two minutes the use of an auxiliary reservoir candecrease this time. It may be advantageous to have shorter purging cycletimes for pressurized vessel during high flow rates from the septic tank850. In the event of compressor downtime, including malfunction andpower loss, the amount of pressurized gas stored in reservoir may allowfor several purge cycles of the pressure vessel to take place. Forexample, the reservoir may store enough compressed gas to allow for fouradditional purges of 45 seconds or more. In embodiments, the reservoirmay include a high pressure, compressed gas/air, or supply tank and mayeven be portable to allow for refilling offsite to keep the pump systemoperating through an extended power failure or blower breakdown.

Accordingly, embodiments may also include systems, methods and devicesfor pressure distributing liquids, such as storm water, pretreatedwastewater, or wastewater, into downstream infiltration and/or treatmentsystems. Embodiments may include wastewater infiltrations systems aswell as aerating wastewater infiltration systems (collectively “WIsystems”). Embodiments may also include the introduction of air oranother gas into soil or other media surrounding a downstreaminfiltration field into which the water may flow. The introduction ofair or another gas into the system may serve to enhance the hydrauliccapacity and treatment efficiency of embodiments, including WI systemembodiments.

Thus, in embodiments, gas may be discharged through the system and intoone or more downstream infiltration fields in addition to being used topump or lift water stored in a pressure vessel. The distribution to theone or more downstream fields may be controlled with or activated by oneor more valves positioned to divert fluid. In so doing, the one or moredownstream infiltration systems may be rejuvenated when active gases areused, such as gasses containing oxygen. This rejuvenation may bepromoted by the active gas, which can serve to promote biochemicalreactions in and around the infiltration field as well as rejuvenateother portions of the infiltration system. The active gas, which mayinclude oxygen, may also serve to reduce biosolids in the system,including at the infiltration field, and at other locations as well.Thus, in embodiments, an active gas may be used to move water out of apressure vessel and towards an infiltration system. This active gas mayalso act on the infiltration system and provide rejuvenative effects onand around the infiltration system. These rejuvenative effects mayinclude rejuvenating a soil/system interface, treatment of organicaccumulations, reduction in sludge or other biomass, and therebeneficial effects in or around the system.

Embodiments may also include use on sand and other media filters forlifting up to, dosing and the benefits of gas flow through the media.And embodiments may include or rely on pumps to move or lift wastewateror other fluid to more optimum locations/elevations, and devices orsystems to apply pressure and distribute wastewater or other water outfor enhanced treatment in a treatment system. Furthermore, embodimentscan be utilized with, or may include, numerous types of water treatmentsystems including, but not limited to, residential, commercial,industrial, and storm water, as well as other water treatment systemsreceptive to or requiring air or another gas for treatment. And,embodiments may be configured to be applied in septic tank wastewatersystems as well as other types of organic or nonorganic treatment orpretreatment systems.

Embodiments may include systems that provide for lifting or pressurizingwater in piping systems, and subsequently aerating components of thedownstream treatment system or the downstream treatment system as awhole. Embodiments may employ supplemental or additional submersible orcentrifugal pump(s) and an air mover at various stages in addition tothe pressurized system for lifting the water. These supplemental oradditional pumps or air movers may be used in downstream or upstreamapplications and for water treatment or water movement or both. When therequired lift is in excess of the capability of the vessel and gaspressure generating device, additional vessels and gas pressuregenerating devices can be installed at higher elevations to serve aslift stations.

Embodiments may be configured to reduce, minimize or eliminate bubbling(entraining water in air to displace water upwardly) and to promote auniform head in order to apply a relatively uniform pressuredistribution across water or other fluid in a vessel to be lifted.Embodiments may employ an alternating flow of wastewater or other fluidand gas that may be necessary for optimum rejuvenation of the water orthe infiltration systems or both. Embodiments may be further configuredto reduce the likelihood that aeration of the infiltration system orwater will occur at undesired times. In other words, while aeratingwastewater or other fluid or an infiltration system may be considered tobe desirable, bubbling oxygen containing gases through water canincrease the production of sludge/biosolids. This can also negativelyaffect nitrogen removal. Thus, the pressure may be dropped considerablysuch that gas does not bubble into the water but, may still be used forrejuvenation. In preferred embodiments bubbling will be minimized, ifnot eliminated. Entrained bubbles to displace water are avoided, if noteliminated, in preferred embodiments. Thus, in embodiments, aeration maybe controlled by regulating the gas pressure placed on the water in thepressure vessel and by changing the pressure as water is purged from thepressure vessel and gas begins to flow out of the pressure vessel. Inembodiments, should aeration not be preferred, gas pressure may bereduced once gas reaches a discharge inlet in the pressure vessel suchthat the likelihood of gas transfer to the flowing water out of thepressure vessel and downstream is reduced. Embodiments, therefore, maybalance these positive and detrimental effects of aeration through gasflow and water flow management, the timing of each, the amount of gaspressure used, the location of the inlet and outlet openings, and byusing other techniques or configurations as well. Embodiments where thereactive gas is introduced into the top of the vessel, above the fluid,prevent air bubbles from moving through the fluid. This serves tominimize the production of sludge/biosolids.

Embodiments may include a pressurized dosing vessel with a check valve,actuated valve or other isolation device, such as a J-Trap, or otherconfiguration that allows wastewater to flow into the pressure vesselcontaining the water when the water is not under significant pressure.These isolation devices can be inside or outside of the pressure vessel,and in embodiments this inlet can be fitted with effluent filters tofilter water to any desired level of filtration. The valves may be inother locations as well.

Still further, a blower or other gas pressure generating device may bein fluid communication with the pressure vessel to create or supplementelevated pressure in the pressure vessel. In embodiments, the pressuredeveloped in the pressure vessel may be capable of lifting the waterwastewater or other fluid to a desired elevation and/or location. Thepressures developed may serve to direct the gases and water downstreamto a permeable media infiltration and off gas treatment system.Pressures involved may range and can include pressures between less than1 psi to over 50 psi or more, where some systems may work at relativelylow pressure of 1 psi or less and many systems may operate at 10 psi orless. Other pressures may also be used depending upon the density of thewater, the distance it needs to travel and/or be lifted. A water orother fluid discharge line having a discharge inlet may run from nearthe bottom of the pressure vessel to the discharge point of the waterinto any downstream system.

Embodiments may also employ lines with multiple discharge orifices thatmay serve to more uniformly spread the dose of wastewater to a WI orother target. In other words, multiple discharge lines may be used tomanage the downstream delivery of the water once it has left thepressure vessel or storage device. One or more of these lines may alsoserve as a vent needed to allow water or another fluid to enter thepressure vessel should the pressure generating equipment be sealed. Inother words, one or more discharge lines may provide for venting ofgases displaced by inflowing water or other configuration requiring gasventing—pressure balancing—to promote functionality. For example, with alinear diaphragm blower, displaced gases may not escape to atmosphere,so a vent with suitable valving or gas trapping devices may be employedin embodiments. Displaced gases are preferably reduced when the gasesare odorous or otherwise unwanted to be discharged. Moreover, thisdischarge in embodiments may be made to sand filters or leach fields orthe like that are downstream of a pressure vessel in order to manageodors of the wastewater and its off gasses.

In embodiments, a blower may be energized manually, by a timecontroller, or by signal input from a pressure transducer, float switchor other signaling device. Other triggering systems and methodologiesmay be used as well. In embodiments, a check valve may be utilized asthe inlet sealing/isolation device. In embodiments, no signal may berequired to close the inlet valve as this may be done manually by thevalve configuration itself. In embodiments, an actuated valve or othersimilar isolation device may also be used. A signal may be sent by acontroller or other device to close the valve in order to pressurize thepressure vessel.

In use, in embodiments, when the air blower is turned on, it should,preferably, pressurize the pressure vessel, and this pressure can serveto displace the water up a discharge line and to the downstreaminfiltration system under sufficient pressures. In embodiments a bloweror pump may be utilized for pumping air or another gas and water oranother water to a gravity distribution box or the like; in applicationsthe blower or pump may be configured to send gas and water to: apressure distribution system with small orifices (Low-Pressure Pipe“LPP”); a drip irrigation tube; or other similar devices functioning orconfigured to apply, sometimes uniformly, water or other effluent.

Embodiments may discharge to a gravity pipe, plastic infiltrationchamber, etc. Preferably, the discharge point may be configured to besufficiently vented to allow for gases, displaced by wastewater or otherwaters entering the pressure vessel to dissipate, without significantback pressure. A float or other level sensor can serve as an alarmsignal generator to indicate a high level condition. In someembodiments, the level float switch can also be utilized as an alarmindicator, for example if the switch stays in the up position for toolong an interval, an alarm signal and related alarm may be sent.

In embodiments, the pressure vessel can sit outside a septic tank,treatment tank, etc., or it can be installed directly into the tank. Abenefit of installing it in an existing tank or a conventional treatmentsystem device, such as a septic tank, may be lower cost or reduced spacedemands. Additionally, the main septic tank may remain anaerobic and/oranoxic during operation since the flow of air or other gas may becontained entirely within the smaller pressure vessel.

When a pressure vessel is positioned within soil subject to saturation,another vessel, tank, or other chamber, design considerations mayinclude buoyancy considerations and the buoyancy forces associated withempty and filled vessels. Straps or other hold down devices may be usedto secure the pressure vessel. Sheer mass may be used as well. Stillfurther, in some embodiments the pressure vessel and the conventionaltank may be precast or otherwise configured in the same component of anoverall treatment system.

When a pressure vessel is installed either inside or downstream ofanother tank, wastewater or other water that is being generated in ahouse or other generating facility, during pressurization of thepressure vessel to forward flow a dose, can simultaneously accumulate inthe other tank until the pressure vessel pressure drops down again,allowing inflow of effluent into the pressure vessel. In other words,when the pressure vessel is full or being discharged or not capable ofaccepting additional inflow of water, an outer tank or parallel tank orother tank may serve as a buffer or overflow tank upstream of thepressure vessel. In certain embodiments, a buffer or upstream tank canbe eliminated and effluent can accumulate in the piping, leading betweenthe wastewater source and the pressure vessel. In this embodiment, thepiping serves as both a reservoir and a conveyance system. Inembodiments where backpressures are low, water may be able to flow intothe pressure vessel as water is being pressurized out of the pressurevessel.

In embodiments, when the pressure vessel is under pressure, higherinternal pressures can serve to prevent waters at a lower pressure fromentering it. When the dose has been pushed out of the pressure vessel,the pressure generating device may be deactivated and the pressurevessel pressure may drop to approximately atmospheric pressure, allowingwater or another fluid to again flow into the pressure vessel.

Embodiments can also operate in conjunction with or as a backup for atraditional electrical pumping system. In other words, water to bepurged from a sump or other storage source may flow into the pressurevessel and be evacuated by the gas pressure lifting as well.

Embodiments can be configured to receive water from a centrifugal,submersible or other pump device. This configuration allows for the useas a lift station or for the benefits of cycling the flow of water andair or other gas. Still further, embodiments can function off of acompressed air or oxygen supply. If the gas supply is in bottled form,it may be particularly beneficial when a power supply is interrupted. Inpreferred embodiments, the received water will have been pretreatedbefore receipt by the pressure vessel.

In certain embodiments, such as when utilized with an aerobicpretreatment system and the like, the blower and associated piping canbe configured to supply air or gas for tank treatment process and todischarge water or another fluid to the desired location and/orelevation. This eliminates the need for a blower and pump. Since thesame blower is used for supplying air to the aerobic treatment deviceand for forward flowing water; this ensures that the aeration blower wasoperational and supplying air for treatment, before the water can beforward flowed for discharge. Controllers can also be utilized forsensing and logic to prevent untreated water from being forward flowedor discharged; however this is a simple fail safe method even withoutincorporating a controller. This configuration can be facilitatedthrough the use of actuated valves and the like. In certain instancesone blower may be dedicated to the treatment process and one may beutilized for the movement of water and gas to the infiltration system.In certain embodiments, dual alternating blowers are utilized forredundancy.

In embodiments the wastewater may be septic wastewater, pretreatedwastewater, partially treated wastewater, as well as nonseptic,industrial, commercial or residential wastewater. In embodiments, thewater may be discharged as effluent to local infiltration systems orother local facilities. The effluent may also be discharged to municipalsewer systems for more remote handling or for subsequent treatment.

In embodiments, a bubbler or agitator device such as 112 shown in FIG.1, may be used in the system to fluidize sludge resident in the storagevessel or otherwise in the system. Also, filters may be employed toreduce sludge build up in the system or to pretreat water prior tosystem entry. Pipe sizes involved in the system including the inlet andoutlets to the tanks and other components and blowers, as well as theleaching field may be in the range of one-half inch to six inches ormore. The inlet or entrance to the pressure vessel may preferably be 1to 6 or more inches and the discharge pipe from the pressure vessel maypreferably be approximately one to four or more inches. Other sizes maybe used as well.

Pressure vessels can be installed in a variety of orientations,including vertical, horizontal or any other angle. The desiredorientation depends on vessel dimensions, depth to groundwater, gaspressure generator capacities, space constraints and other sizingconsiderations wherein elevation discharge points and leaching fieldelevations are accounted for and may be set to provide a slope of0.25/foot or more, to satisfy anticipated volume throughput, and tosatisfy local septic regulations. Shorter, larger diameter vessels aredesirable in that they minimize the pressure requirements of the gaspressure generating device since the lift is minimized. Filters employedby the pressure vessel intake or other components of embodiments mayinclude septic tank effluent filters made by Poly-Lock and Zabel.

Controllers used in embodiments may receive signals or instructions fromfloats, switches and sensors, and operators or users, and may use thesesignals or instructions to control the cycling of the gas flow and thepressure developed in the pressure vessel. The signals may indicate BODlevels, pressure, water levels, temperature, alarm conditions, doses,cycles, valve positions, float positions, oxygen levels, soluble orinsoluble effluent constituents, and other monitored conditions as well.The cycle times may be variable based on the wastewater constituents orthe amount of oxygen in the gas, where in some embodiments the lessoxygen in the gas the longer the pump cycles, and in some embodimentsthe more organics in the wastewater the longer the pump cycles. Thus,oxygen content and organic content may be sensed and reported to thecontroller. The controller may make operational determinations based onsignals received from sensors or other signal generating devices. Thecontroller may also be governed by instructions received from anoperator or user. The controller can track volumes of water forwardflowed and deliver sufficient air, oxygen or other reactive gas tofacilitate the treatment process. During intervals of high wastewaterflow, multiple doses of water may be forward flowed without sufficientair, oxygen or other reactive gas flow; in this instance, the controllercan track and make up for insufficient air oxygen or other reactive gasflow by extending run times after the high flow interval has passed.

The controller may be further configured or modified by a user tocontrol cycle length based on water height and on water flow rate intothe pressure vessel. For example, when water flow rate is high, thecontroller may not promote pressure and water buildup, but may, instead,promotes greater water flow through the pressure vessel and towards thedownstream water treatment systems. Still further, the controller maysend an alarm when water level in the pressure vessel is over a targetheight. The cycle time set by the controller may be such that thebiological oxygen demand for the wastewater effluent is met for thewater by the gas being pumped.

In embodiments, the sensors being employed could include mechanicalsensors as well as voltage sensors and pressure sensors. In embodiments,the controllers may be configured to received stored code and executethe code to perform some or all of the steps and comparisons describedherein. These may be performed in various orders and with more or lessfeatures and aspects as those described in the embodiments herein.

In embodiments, the blower may be run to provide a sufficient biologicaloxygen demand for the dose of fluid leaving the vessel. The amount ofoxygen designed to be introduced per each dose from the pressure vesselmay be set to levels sufficient for discharge into rivers or other localwaterways. A float in the pressure vessel may serve as an alarm ifinternal volumes of fluid in the vessel are too high or if aninsufficient amount of doses have occurred in an hour or other definedtime period. The clean out of the vessel may also be used to overridethe vessel and to pump or otherwise direct wastewater or other fluiddirectly to the downstream treatment system. Thereby, bypassing thepressure vessel and the air dosing performed therein. The bubbler in thevessel may be used to treat or fluidize any sludge that may gather atthe bottom of the vessel.

Embodiments may preferably seek to minimize or eliminate the bubbling ofgases into the effluent upstream or downstream in system embodiments. Inother words, embodiments may preferably seek to reduce bubbling orentraining gas into water in order to reduce or minimize or eliminategas entrainment that promotes the creation of biosolids or sludge orother biomass. Bubbling may, however be used for mechanical agitations,such as dislodging sludge from the tank. In preferred embodiments, thegas pressure placed atop fluids in the pressure vessel will push down onthe fluid rather than bubble through the fluid. Since the vesseloperates at a supra atmospheric pressure, oxygen transfer into the fluidis enhanced. In certain embodiments, the vessel is pressurized with gasand the pressure maintained for a period of time, to enhance oxygentransfer into the fluid, prior to forward flowing the fluid.

As wastewater or other fluid may have organic components and nonorganiccomponents, aerobic activity may be promoted by the gas in someembodiments, such as when using gasses with oxygen. In embodiments,aerobic activity may not be promoted by the gas, such as when the gasbeing used has little or no oxygen.

Embodiments may also be configured to prevent siphoning that is commonwhen a pump tank is located at an elevation higher than the dischargepoint(s) and may serve to minimize freezing of pipes by pushing thewater out of the piping and subsequently flowing of air to drain pipingof a treatment system.

Due to the corrosive nature of many wastewaters, the pressure vesselsare preferably constructed of fiberglass, plastic, stainless steel andother strong, corrosion resistant, materials. Embodiments may alsoreduce or eliminate duplication of pumps and blowers in the same orconnected wastewater or contaminated fluid treatment systems. Inembodiments, a single blower may perform the functions of blowers andpumps, and in some embodiments a single blower may be sufficient for thesystem. Additionally, slime that is typically present in wastewater orcontaminated fluid piping and/or associated orifices may be minimized byflowing air after dosing wastewater or other contaminated fluid. The airdose or other reactive gas dose may serve to dry down the pipe, supplyoxygen, or push solids and liquids out of the piping system. Each mayserve to beneficially minimize organic and inorganic accumulations inwastewater or other contaminated fluid piping systems. Embodiments mayalso minimize the need to put electrical components in corrosiveenvironments associated with the treatment systems.

In certain embodiments, dual pressure generating devices may be used,for redundancy and backup in single failure circumstances. During highflow intervals both devices can also be utilized simultaneously.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specific thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operation, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

Embodiments may be implemented as a computer process, a computing systemor as an article of manufacture such as a computer program product ofcomputer readable media. The computer program product may be a computerstorage medium readable by a computer system and encoding a computerprogram instructions for executing a computer process.

The corresponding structures, material, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or steps plus function elements in the claims are intended toinclude any structure, material or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the embodiments of the present invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description, but is notintended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and the practical application,and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand theinvention for embodiments with various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wastewater treatment system comprising: apressure vessel having a liquid input, the liquid input configured to bein fluid communication with a pretreatment device, the pretreatmentdevice comprising one or more of a filter, treatment tank or asettlement chamber; an inlet flow regulator positioned for regulatinggas pressure in the pressure vessel; a gas supply port configured forrouting gas used for increasing gas pressure within the pressure vessel;a pressure vessel discharge conduit for flowing fluid from within thepressure vessel to a downstream system for treating liquid or treatingoff gas or both; wherein the discharge conduit is configured to flowliquid and then flow gas not entrained in the liquid from the pressurevessel after gas pressure above the liquid in the pressure vesselexceeds a discharge threshold to flow the liquid out of the pressurevessel via the discharge conduit and then flow gas not entrained in theliquid out of the pressure vessel via the discharge conduit.
 2. Thewastewater treatment system of claim 1 further comprising a controller,the controller configured to permit or prevent the flow of pressurizedair from the compressed gas source upon receiving signals from one ormore sensors that each of the following threshold targets has been met:a target pH level has been met; a target temperature, has been met; atarget pressure has been met, a target BOD level has been met; a targetoxygen level has been met; and a target supply voltage has been met. 3.The wastewater treatment system of claim 1 further comprising: a filterpositioned to filter liquid entering the pressure vessel and comprisinga sensor and a filter signal line, the filter signal line incommunication with a controller.
 4. The wastewater treatment system ofclaim 1 further comprising: a controller, the controller configured toreceive signals from sensors that detect the ambient pressure in thepressure vessel, the controller configured to activate and stop a sourceof compressed gas supplying gas to the gas supply port when targetpressure is reached or when a target time period has passed, or when atarget volume of wastewater has accumulated in the pressure vessel. 5.The wastewater treatment system of claim 4 wherein the controller is anelectronic device and is further configured to operate one or morevalves of the wastewater treatment system, the one or more valvesremaining open or being closed because of signals sent by thecontroller, the signals being sent by the controller when pressure inthe pressure vessel reaches a target value or a target accumulatedvolume or a target BOD level or a target oxygen level.
 6. The wastewatertreatment system of claim 4 wherein the controller is further configuredto activate and stop a source of compressed gas to purge wastewater fromthe pressure vessel and to send compressed gas downstream of thepressure vessel and into the downstream treatment system, the controllerfurther configured to continue sending compressed gas for a period oftime sufficient to promote aerobic conditions at and rejuvenation ofleaching media surrounding an infiltration system of the downstreamtreatment system.
 7. The wastewater treatment system of claim 1 whereinthe pretreatment device comprises a septic tank in fluid communicationwith the liquid input of the pressure vessel, and wherein the downstreamtreatment system comprises an infiltration system for treating water oroff gas or both.
 8. A fluid distribution system comprising: a pressurevessel having one or more discharge conduits; a valve in fluidcommunication with a wastewater fluid inlet of the pressure vessel; anda gas pressurization supply in fluid communication with the pressurevessel; wherein the pressure vessel is configured such that pretreatedwastewater accumulates in the pressure vessel and gas in the pressurevessel is pressurized above the surface of the accumulated wastewater bythe introduction of gas from the gas pressurization supply into thepressure vessel and, wherein the pressure vessel is configured such thatthe pretreated wastewater is cyclically purged from the pressure vesseland flows towards an infiltration system by gas compressed by the gaspressurization supply and held under pressure within the pressurevessel, wherein the pressure vessel is configured such that the cyclicalpurging occurs through one or more discharge conduits of the pressurevessel and such that wherein nonentrained gas flows through a dischargeconduit immediately after wastewater is pushed from the pressure vesselthrough the same discharge conduit.
 9. The fluid distribution system ofclaim 8 further comprising at least one or more of the following: aninfiltration system in fluid communication with a discharge conduit andat least partially above the elevation of the exit of the pressurevessel; a wastewater distribution box; a gravity pipe; an infiltrationchamber; an auxiliary compressed gas reservoir; or an overflow leachfield in fluid communication with a treatment tank, the treatment tankin fluid communication with the pressure vessel and serving as a sourceof pretreated wastewater for the pressure vessel; and wherein thecyclical purging from the pressure vessel serves to vent gas from thepressure vessel, wherein the valve is a passive one-way valve or is anactive controlled valve, and wherein the gas pressurization supply is ablower that is activated from a fluid level sensor or from a timer. 10.The fluid distribution system of claim 9 wherein the infiltration systemincludes a drip irrigation conduit.
 11. The fluid distribution system ofclaim 8 wherein one or more of the discharge lines is in fluidcommunication with the infiltration system.
 12. A method for aeratingwastewater sent to a leaching field comprising: flowing gas into apressure vessel, the pressure vessel having an exit port and an entranceport, the gas being pressurized atop wastewater in the pressure vessel;discharging wastewater in the pressure vessel and then discharging gasin the pressure vessel towards a leach field by pushing the wastewaterfrom the pressure vessel via the exit port with pressurized gas in thepressure vessel and then by flowing gas in the pressure vessel out ofthe pressure vessel via the exit port as nonentrained gas; and afterdischarging wastewater, stopping or reducing flow of gas into thepressure vessel for a period of time.
 13. A pressure vessel system foraccumulating and discharging fluid comprising: a first device configuredto develop gas pressure in a pressure vessel; a valve or trap on aninlet of the pressure vessel that is configured to allow wastewater toenter the pressure vessel and inhibit gas flow out of the vessel whenthe first device is building gas pressure in the pressure vessel; asecond device configured to detect wastewater level in the pressurevessel; and a conduit having an entrance port running from a bottomportion of the pressure vessel to a discharge point outside of thepressure vessel through which wastewater flows intermittently fromwithin the pressure vessel to outside of the pressure vessel and throughwhich nonentrained gas flows intermittently from within the pressurevessel to outside of the pressure vessel, the conduit having restperiods during cycles of filing and emptying where nonentrained gas orwastewater is not being forced out of the pressure vessel; wherein thepressure vessel is located downstream of and receives wastewater from athird device, the third device for treating wastewater.
 14. The pressurevessel system of claim 13 wherein the gas is air; wherein the firstdevice is a compressor or blower; wherein the second device is a sensor;wherein the third device is a septic tank or clarifier; wherein there isa filter downstream of the third device; and wherein the conduitdischarges to a soil infiltration system for gas and water.
 15. Thepressure vessel system of claim 14 further comprising: a controllerconfigured to track wastewater flow and optimize gas flow into and outof the vessel using the tracked wastewater flow.
 16. The pressure vesselsystem of claim 14 wherein there are two first devices that alternateoperation.
 17. The pressure vessel system of claim 13 wherein the firstdevice is also used to aerate the third device.
 18. The pressure vesselsystem of claim 13 wherein when the conduit is filled with gas internalsurfaces of the conduit are being dried.
 19. The pressure vessel systemof claim 13 wherein the first device is a blower or compressor that isconfigured to be turned on and off by a timer.
 20. The pressure vesselsystem of claim 13 further comprising: a vent, trap or valve on thepressure vessel that is configured to allow pressure levels within thepressure vessel to drop after wastewater or gas or both is dischargedfrom the pressure vessel.